Minutus

Hi everyone ;
Just a brief mention about Khat also known as Kat , Qat and Quaadka . Infact it isn't quite as harmless as may be believed . In the short term it has been known to cause inflammations to the mouth as well as secondary infections any where within the digestive tract . The long term evidence suggests it can cause problems such as heart disease and possible impotence . Prolonged and excessive useage may instigate oral cancer and psychological problems such as depression , anxiety and irritation that may lead to pychosis . The main active ingredient is infact Cathinone which in the UK is a class C drug.
Information source is from the Institute for the Study of Drug Dependance.

Kind Regards Will
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Everything about Qat/khat/kat

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studie ... t/qat.html

thanks for the info. good article

tanya

Hi Will,

I know people come to these conclusions about all herbal substances (coffee and tea, to make a point, do not escape the same criticisms--causing lots of short term bad effects for some and long term bad effects for others...) but the fact that the drug has been used socially by large groups of people for many, many centuries (it predates coffee, for example, and we have an idea that coffee drinking started around the 1300's) should account for much stronger empirical evidence.

We all know, as homeopaths, that the difference between medicine and poison is quantity. If you isolate a perceived "active ingredient" and refuse to acknowledge how it functions as one of millions of other ingredients in any given, ingestible substance, then you'll never understand that substance's real effect on the body. So I'm a little suspicious of the Study of Drug Dependence. Sure, its helpful to know Cathinone is potent...but I think hundreds of years of experience from use of the whole plant is more reliable information.

In any case, its banning is a result of reasons which have little to do with science.

Nancy

Hi Nance ;
Their is little argument there....... agree with most that you say . Not
only of course is the amount of , or for how long the drug is taken , but
how
it is administered is very important.....not neccessarily with Khat but in
general terms . One of the key points also , as you have suggested are the
social reasons . Taking a drug for recreational use with the user having an
element of control will be different to someone expressing some degree of
dependence or addiction ( which is perfectly feasible with Khat as in any
other drug ) and consequently risking some associated health problems . The
information cited from the studies of drug dependance only suggested
possible physiological / emotional problems ( some potential worse case
scenarios ) . As you can appreciate an enormous array of interrelated
factors must be considered to establish a better picture , but having said
that , the studies would I am sure have studied the drug effects in its
entirety and not by isolating the active Cathinone ingredient. An
interesting subject and will be happy to continue this discussion off list
if you wish . Take care .
Kind Regards Will.